Fuel mixer for internal-combustion engines



Jan. 2, 1951 A. c. RUSSELL FUEL uxm FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION mamas Filed Jan. 2. 1948 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR w w m U R M 9 m m T C A w n. M

Y A B A. C. RUSSELL FUEL IIXER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Jan. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1948 r4!//lI/llllllllllllllfll riZIIIIIIIl/lfllllllfl/Ij y/IIIIIIIIIIIIIII I III/IIIIIIIIIIII IIIIl/IIII/ INVENTOR Patented Jan. 2, 1951 FUEL MIXER FOR" All-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Andrew Craig Russell, Shawnee, Okla. Application January 2, 1948; Serial No.1

This invention relates to the automotive field and particularly to internal combustion engines. the primary object being to provide a carburetor operable automatically and entirely through the suction created by the internal combustion engine at the intake manifold thereof to which the carburetor is attached.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines having an air inlet port and an outlet opening communicating with the intake manifold of the engine, said outlet port being placed into communication with the fuel bowl of the carburetor through the medium of a vertical tube having its lowermost end projecting into the fuel within the bowl, said tube being provided with a plurality of passages in register with the air intake port and so disposed as to direct air upwardly in the tube thereby creating a suction at the level of fuel within the tube.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines having the aforesaid vertical tubular member and a restricted passage within said member disposed between the above mentioned passages and the level of fuel within the tubular member whereby to increase the amount of suction at said level of fuel.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a sectional partition between a pair of compartments formed in the carburetor housing, one of said sections being freely reciprocable within the housing to and from a position substantially closing an opening between said compartments, said one section being actuated entirely by the suction created by the internal combustion engine with which the mixer is used.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carburetor of the aforementioned character wherein one of the sections of the partition is shiftable vertically within the housing by a manually rotatable shaft extending to the exterior of said housing whereby the opening between the said pair of compartments may be increased or decreased at will.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines having a removable plug mounted in the lowermost end of the vertical tubular member for controlling the amount of fuel flowing into said tubular member.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines having a pipe telescoped within the above mentioned tubular member and eommuni lfllalm. (Cl- 261-50) eating with the plug at the lowermost end thereof for receiving fuel from the bowl of the housing directly when air is forced into the tubular member and toward the uppermost end thereof.

Another very important object of this invention is the provision of a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines wherein the above mentioned plurality of passages within thevertical tubular member are not only disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member but at an angle to its transverse axis whereby to create a whirl in the tubular member as the air entersthereinto.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines having the above mentioned sectional partition wherein the said freely shiftable section of such partition has a plurality of angularly disposed radial vanes defining perforations therein whereby to create a whirl in the air passing through such perforations that is opposite in direction to the whirl within the tubular member thereby creating a turbulence at the uppermost end of said tubular member.

Other objects will be made clear or become apparent during the course of the following speciiication. reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein? Figure l is a substantially central vertical cross sectional view taken through a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line II -II of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed goes sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 5 is a detailed elevational view showing the locking means for the manually operable shaft.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing another modified form of the present invention.

The fuel mixer illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, includes a housing broadly designated by the numeral Hi that includes three hollow sections l2. I4 and I8 respectively. The sections l2 and II are joined 3 together through the medium of bolts or the like I8 while the section l6 depends from section I4 and i removably joined thereto by means of a number of bolts or the like 28.

A portion of the center section I4 forms a first compartment 22 havin an air inlet port 24 communicating therewith.

A butterfly valve 26 of conventional character for choking purposes, is mounted within the compartment 22 and movable manually through structure not shown, to and from a position closing the air inlet port 24.

Another compartment 28 is formed in the housing l8 through the section I2 thereof and a portion of the section I4. These compartments 22 and 28 are interconnected by a passageway 38 defined by a continuous internal shoulder 32 formed in the section M of the housing l8.

A liquid fuel inlet port 34 formed in the section I6 of housing I8 (said section l6 forming a third compartment 36 which constitutes the fuel bowl of the mixer has a reciprocable valve 38 mounted therein. This valve 38 is secured to a bracket 48 pivotally mounted within the compartment 36 and having a conventional float 44 mounted on one end thereof. It is thus seen that the float 44 and valve 38 operate to maintain the liquid fuel within compartment 36 at a predetermined level, said fuel flowing from a suitable source not shown through a conduit 46 communicating with inlet opening 34.

A hole 48 is formed in the normally bottom wall of the section I4 of housing I8 for receiving a vertical tubular member 58. This member 58 has an annular external flange 52 formed thereon intermediate its ends, this flange 52 underlying the bottom wall of the section I6 and being secured thereto through the medium of screws or the like 54.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the lowermost end of the tubular member 58 extends into the compartment 36 and into the fuel therein. The uppermost end of member 58 extends upwardly through the compartment 22 and terminates at its uppermost end within the compartment 28 of housing I8.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, a plurality of passages 56 are formed in the tubular member 58 and disposed to place the compartment 22 of housing I8 intocommunication with the interior of member 58. Fig. 1 illustrates the way in which these passages 56 are formed to extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of member 58 with the innermost ends thereof closer to the uppermost end of member 58 than the outermost ends of passages 56. In addition to these passages 56 being disposed at such angle, they are also formed at an angle to the transverse axis of member 58. In other words, each of the passages 56 are inclined vertically and disposed tangently to the tubular member 58, the latter disposition being clearly shown in Fig. 4.

A partition between the compartments 22 and 28 of the housing I8 comprises a pair of sections 58 and 68. The section 68 is disposed within the compartment 22 of housing IO-and is threadably mounted for vertical reciprocation upon the tubular member 58. A cavity 82 formed in the member 68 at its lowermost end circumscribes and provides clearance for the passages 56 within the member 58. External threads 64 formed on the member 68, mesh with screw threads 66 on a transverse shaft 68 mounted within the section I4 of housing I8.

A cavity 18 rotatably receives the innermost 4 end of this shaft 68 while the opposite end thereof passes through an opening 12 in the opposite wall of the housing I8 and terminates exteriorly of said housing I8.

A small disk 14 secured to the outermost end of the shaft 68 permits manual rotation of said shaft 68, which rotation causes vertical reciprocation of the section 68 upon the member 58. A short projection 76 extending from the housing l8 threadably receives a pin 18. This pin 18 passes through the free ends of a U-shaped bracket 88, said bracket 88 circumscribing the shaft 68 between disk I4 and the housing I8. Thus as the shaft 68 is rotated to adjust the section 68 to the desired position, shaft 68 may be locked against rotation through the medium of screw 18 and the clamp 88.

A shoulder 82 formed on the shaft 68 abuts the clamp 88 and shaft 68 is thereby held against outward movement from housing l8. The section 58 has a hub 84 slidably circumscribing the member 58 from which hub 84 extends radially a plurality of vanes 86. These vanes 86 define a number of perforations 88 in the section 58 and are slightly inclined as indicated in Fig. 3. This section 58 normally rests upon the section 68 and is disposed within the passage 38 between the compartments 22 .and 28 of housing I8.

When in said normal position the section 58 substantially closes said passage 38, there being only a slight space between the periphery of section 58 and the shoulder 32 of housing III.

A tapered pin 98 mounted within a plug 92 which in turn is threaded into the lowermost end of the tubular member 58, serves as a valve to prevent passage of fluid from compartment 36 to the tubular member 58 when said pin 88 is at the lowermost end of its path of travel. The lowermost pointed end of the pin 88 rests upon a flat plate 94 within the compartment 36 and this plate 84 is joined to the section 84 through the medium of a pair of posts. These posts 86 are each reciprocably mounted within openings 98 formed in the bottom wall of the section I4.

An internal shoulder formed in the tubular member 58 between the level of liquid fuel within compartment 36 and the passages 56 has a relatively small opening I88 formed therein.

An outlet opening I82 formed in the section I2 of the housing I8 in communication with the compartment 28 registers with the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine with which the mixer is to be used. A suitable passageway, not shown, between outlet opening I82 and the engine may have a conventional butterfly valve therein operably connected to an accelerator in the usual manner.

In operation, the conduit 46 is connected to a. suitable source of fuel supply and float 44 operates through the valve 38 to maintain such liquid fuel at a predetermined level within the compartment or fuel bowl 36. Adjustment is made to permit entrance of enough fuel into the tubular member 58, past the valve 88 to maintain a level of fuel within such tubular member 58 when the mixer is not in use. In other words, even with the plate 84 at the lowermost end of its path of travel as determined by the section 84 resting upon the uppermost face of section 68, the lowermost end of tubular member 58 being within the fuel in fuel bowl 36 there will always be a level of such fuel in member 58. As soon as the ignition system of the internal combustion engine is rendered operable and while attempts are being made to start such s engine, there-wi1l immediately be a suction created at the intake manifold of the internal oombustion engine. This suction will be transmitted through the outlet opening I02 and into compartment 20 of the housing II. A small amount of air will be drawn into the engine from air inlet port 24. such air passing into compartment 22 through passageway 32 and thence into the compartment 20 because of the space around the section 04.

Obviously to facilitate starting, such passage of air may be eliminated by the closing of butterfly valve 20. While the engine is thus being started. the suction within compartment 20 will be transmitted into the uppermost end of the tubular member 00. This'suction within tubular member will draw airfrom the compartment 22 through passages 00. Such in-rushing air through passages will be directed upwardly toward the uppermost .end of the tubular member "thereby creating a suction above the restricted opening I00 within tubular member 00. such suction will also be presentbelow the-restricted opening ill but have increased intensity because of such opening I00 and this suction at the level of fuel within member 00 will draw such fuel upwardly through-opening I00 and toward the uppermost'end of tubular member 00. when this fuel reaches the innermost ends of the passages 00, the same will admix with air passing through such passages and this admixture will be enhanced because of the whirling action of the air withintubular member 00 because of the precise disposition and angularity' of passages 00 with respect to'both the longitudinal and the transverse axes of tubularmember 00. As the mixture of air and fuel passes upwardly and from the uppermost 'end of the tubular member 00, it mixes with air passing from inlet opening 24 through compartment 22', passage 32 and compartment 20 before entering the internal combustion engine through outlet port I02. After the engine starts and butterfly valve 20 is opened. more or less fuel will be allowed to pass into the engine by manipulation of the accelerator operated butterfly valve above mentioned. As such last mentioned valve is opened, a greater amount ofsuction is created at the outlet opening I02, this increased suction serving to draw the freely slidable section 04 upwardly upon the tubular member 00. When this section 04 rises from its normal position seated upon the section 00, air from inlet port 24 will pass into the compartment 22 and thence into compartment 20 through the perforations 00 within the section 04. This air impinging upon the angularly disposed vanes 00 of the section 04 will whirl in a direction opposite to'the direction of whirl of air within the..tubular member 00. when the whirling mixture of air and fuel emanating from the tubular member 00 strikes the oppositely whirling air within the compartment 20, a turbulence will be established at the uppermost end of the tubular member 00 creating a complete atomization of the fuel particles prior to the same passing through outlet port I42. It

is thus seen that all air and fuel passing into the. internal combustion engine will be thoroughly admixed before the same passes from housing II through outlet port I02, thereby. causing an extremely desirable condition through fuel savings as well as increased eillciency and better performance. of the internal combustion engine.

Reciprocation of the member 00 upon the tube or decrease the space between the periphery of member 00 and the shoulder 02 thereby adjusting the mixer for idling to the speed desired. It is also apparent that as the member 00 is reciprocated through suction of the internal combustion engine, more or less fuel will be permitted to flow into the member 00 because of the actuation of, the tapered valve 00.

a The modification shown in Fig. 6 is substantially the same as that just described with respect to the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, there being a housing IIO having a fuel bowl II4, an air inlet compartment H0 and a compartment IIO that communicates with an outlet opening not shown.

elongated vertical tubular member I20 places the compartment IIO into communication with the fuel bowl II4, this member I 20 having a partition formed from a pair of sections I22 and I24 in precisely the same manner as above described with respect to the modification of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The partition, 1. e. sections I22 and I24 are adjusted in the same manner through the medium of a rotatable shaft I20 having external threads thereon in mesh with threads I20 of the section I24. A level of fuel ismaintained within the bowl H4 and thereby within the :tubular member 20 through the medium of a float I30 operably connected to a valve I32 reciprocably mounted within a fuel inlet port I34. A plurality of passages I30 are formed in the tubular member I20 in the same manner as passages as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The tapered valve 90, the plate 04 and the posts 06 arev entirely eliminated in the modiflcation shown in Fig. 6 and in lieu thereof .a removable plug I38 having an opening I40 therethroughis threaded into the lowermost end of the tubular member I 20. This plug I30 is rendered easily removable by a drain plug I42 disposed within the fuel bowl H4 in direct underlying relationship to the perforated plug I30. Thusa constant supply of fuel is directed to the tubular member I20 dependent upon the size of the plug I30 that is used. The use of such a plug I30 eliminates the costly construction of the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and obviously there are fewer operative parts likely to become maladjusted or worn through use. The use of such plug I30 has the disadvantage however, over the modification first described in that an unlimited supply of fuel to the tubular member I20 is not possible.

When-the fuel mixer made in accordance with the modification shown in Fig. 6 is used for differing types of internal combustion engines, it will become necessary to change plugs I30 having openings I40 therethrough of different sizes. The modification shown in Fig. 7 of these drawings is substantially the same as that just above described in Fig. 6 in that there is a fuel bowl 200, an air inlet compartment 202 and an outlet compartment 204. In this instance, the vertical tubular member 206 has a plug 200 threaded into its lowermost end in much the same manner as the plug I30 of the modification shown in Fig. 6. In this instance however. the plug 200 has aflixed thereto a relatively small pipe 2I0. This pipe 2I0 extends into thetubular member 200 terminating therein in spaced relation to the uppermost end of member 200 and above the innermost end of angul'arly disposed passages 2 within tubular member 200. The

00 through the medium of shaft 02. will increase 70 plug 200 has an opening 2I0 formed therein 7 placing the pipe 2!!! into communication with the fuel bowl 200.

An internal shoulder 220 much like the shoulder shown in Fig. 1, defining the opening I00, supports the pipe 2lll intermediate its end.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, there is likewise a level of fuel within the pipe 2H! because of the fact that tubular member 206 extends into the fuel within the bowl 200. Such fuel will pass through the opening 2l6 of plug 208 and into the pipe 2H], there being always a constant supply of such fuel.

In operation, since passages 2 are formed in the same manner as that above described with respect to Figs. 1 and 4; air from compartment 292 will be directed upwardly toward the uppermost end of tubular member 206, thereby creating a suction within the pipe 2). Such suction at the level of fuel within the pipe 2H) will cause the fuel to move upwardly and meet with whirling air at the uppermost end of pipe 2). The mixture of air and fuel will then pass upwardly through tubular member 206 to mix with whirling air at the uppermost end of this last mentioned member in the same manner as above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a fuel mixer for internal combustion engines, a hollow, compartmental housing having an air inlet port communicating with one of its compartments, an outlet opening in register with a second of its compartments, and a valved inlet port for liquid fuel to be mixed with air registering with a third of its compartments; means in said third compartment and operably connected with the valve of said fuel inlet port for maintaining the fuel at a predetermined level in the third compartment; and a vertical, tubular member having one end thereof within the fuel in said third compartment and its opposite end terminating in said second compartment, said member having a plurality of passages formed therein intermediate the ends thereof to place the interior of the member into direct communication with said one compartment of the housing, said passages being disposed to direct air from the one compartment toward said opposite end of the tubular member whereby to create a suction at the level of fuel in the tubular member as the air is forced from the opposite end of the tubular member through said outlet opening, said housing having a passageway interconnecting the one compartment and the second compartment thereof and a sectional partition shiftably mounted therein, one of the sections of the partition being freely movable in the housing and normally supported by the other section, said one section being disposed within the passageway in spaced relation to the walls of the housing forming the passageway when in said normal position, said other section being in screw-threaded engagement with said tubular member and having manually-operable actuatin means for varying the size of said space when the one section is in said normal position, said actuating means including a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending outwardly therefrom, said shaft being operably joined to said other section for rotating the same on the tubular member and having releasable means on the exterior of said housing for locking the same against rotation.

ANDREW CRAIG RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,111,179 Pratt Sept. 22, 1914 1,308,595 Kidder July 1, 1919 1,439,573 Orem i Dec. 19, 1922 1,767,305 Musall June 24, 1930 1,927,090 Hess Sept. 19, 1933 2,366,056 Russell Dec. 26, 1944' 

